Jan Stulen is a Dutch conductor with almost 50 years of experience in a diverse range of repertoires. Both at home and abroad he is a well-respected conductor with an excellent reputation for his versatility and professionalism.

Stulen connects easily with his orchestra on both a professional and on a personal level. His hugely diverse repertoire spans from baroque to symphonic jazz with all kinds of ensembles.

Stulens’ musicians appreciate his conducting techniques and his efficient approach to rehearsing. They find him easy to follow and because of this, working together goes very smoothly.

Jan Stulen was born in 1942 in Amsterdam which is where he also studied. In 1961, he conducted at his first public concert when he was still a student at the Amsterdamse Muzieklyceum, now known as the Amsterdam Conservatorium.

From 1964 to 1970 he was under contract with the Städtische Bühnen Münster, Germany, in various positions. It was here that he gained experience in all the different areas of the musical theatre. He returned to Holland in 1970 to become chief conductor of the Nederlands Ballet Orkest (now called “Holland Symfonia”. After that, he took on the role of musical director of the Nederlands Danstheater and was also permanent conductor for the public broadcasting stations in Hilversum. While in this position he made countless radio and television recordings with the various broadcasting orchestras. For many years he directed the television series “Jonge mensen op het concertpodium” (Young people in concert ) and “Una Voce Particolare” (A distinct voice). As well as that, he was the permanent conductor for the WDR Rundfunk Orchester between 1986 and 1996.

Around this time he was also a regular guest conductor for the Symfonie Orkest van Vlaanderen. From 1989 to 2000 he was the director of the Deutsches Kammer Orchester Frankfurt am Main and had the same position at the Nederlands Promenade Orkest in Amsterdam until 2003. He was also the artistic advisor for Opera Forum which is now the Nationale Reisopera. Since 2003 he is permanent conductor and artistic advisor of L’Orchestra Particolare (Netherlands). He has conducted orchestras and opera companies throughout Europe, Egypt, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. Besides his career as a performing musician Stulen has also been very involved with the education of aspiring conductors. For more information about this please see: Education and Publications.